Developing apparatus.



S.PRATT. DEVELOPING APPARATUS. I APPLIGATION F ILED JAR. 5, 1911.

1;.i339fl99. Pa ented Sept. 24, 1912.

2 SHEETS-$113111 l.

ATTORNEYS S. PRATT.

DEVELOPING APPARATUS.

urmenmn 11,111) 1111.5, 1911.

Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

2 8KEETS-BKEET 2.

- WIT/158858.-

ATTORNEYS l PATENT orm'on.

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' nnvnnorrne Iarrana'rus.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Snnowxox Piia'rr, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Piedmont, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented a new and ImprovedDeveloping Apparatus, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description. I

This invention relates to a new and improved apparatus for developing. and washing sensitized films in such a manner that they will at no time be exposed to the light.-

An objectof this'invention is to provide a device which will be simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture,. compact in form, strong, durable, easily manipulated, and" quick and thorough in its operation.

. Another object of this inventionjflis to supply the developing apparatuswithiadjust ments whereby it may be adapted to accommodate films of different sizes.

A further object of this inv'e'ntion'is to provide a developing apparatus with ,means for permitting the thereto, at the same trusion of rays of light therein.

A still further ob'ect of this mvention' is to provide means for unreeling the roll of film and: spacing apart the successive-coils thereof, so as to permits circulation of the.

developing fluids therebetween.

supplying of solutions,

These and further objects, "togetherhwithv the construction and combination of parts, will be more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to'the accompanying drawings forming-a part, of this, specifiin which similar characters of ref.-

the views, and in vwh ch.v 1 Figure 1 is a perspective view; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal meshamsm removed from the casing; Fig. 31s a vertical section Fig.

4 is a horizontal tion on the line..4-4. at Fig. "3;;Fig. 5.is.a view in elevatiompartly'in' section, of the shaft; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, perspective view ofthecrank for operating the shaft;

Fig. 7 is a detail bottom planyview. of the;

shaft; Fig. 8 isiadetail bottom lan view of the spacer, collar on the shaft, .ig. '9 is a fragmentary view in-elevation, showingthe as for ,pmse ias; ii w iat en le the time preventing the ins.

For this purpose,

- n ed.

' Specification of lettersl'iatent. Patented Sept. 24, 191 2. Application filed January 5,1911. Serial No. 500,918.

locking collar; and Fig. 10 is a transverse section on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

- Referring more particularly to the separate partsof the device, whichmay beof any suitable material, and

is preferably provided with a large com-' partment '2 and ansmall compartment 3,

.connected together.---'@The former may be termed the bath compartment and the latter may be termed the -reel compartment. The compartments 2 and 3 have a common bottom 4, which forms the bottom of the cusing 1. Projecting upward from the upper surface of the bottom in the compartment 2, there is provided a stud 5, which forms a pivot. support for ahollow tubular shaft 6. The hol-; low tubular shaft 6 extends upward througlf an opening 7 in the cover 8 for the casing 1, and projects abovethe top of the cover 8. The opening 7 is surrounded by a resilient washer 9, of'any suitable material, such as rubber, which forms a light-tight fit with the shaft 6, so as to prevent the intrusion of light into the casing. A rubber plug (W-is inserted in the shaft 6, just below the slot. 49, to prevent access of light to the interior of the casing through the hollow shaft 6. The cover 8 is provided with an outer flange 5 10 andan inner flange 11, spaced apart-from I the flange 1Q,

between,"lwh1ch is adapted to extend the body of the casingil." This channel between the flanges 10 and 11' is preferably provided with .a resilient so asto form a channel thereupper edge of the cushion 12. of any suitable materiaLsuch as rubber, so as to insurethe darlmess'of the. interior of the casingjand to revent the 1 indicates a casing,

leakage of the developing liqui s from the casing, 4

,For the purpose of feeding the wash'ng solutions to -j the interior-of thecasing,.the cover 8 is providedwith'a spout- 13, which, while shown as beingabove thecompartment 3, may be located in any other suitable position. This spout13 is formed so as to obstruct the passage of rays oflighti into I the interior of the "casing andjyet at the" same time permit the flow of fluid thereinto.

compartments,

it. is provided with three. formed by partitions 14, 15 and 16,;ipa'rts-of which'are broken-awayto order to get into the casing. For the purpose of admitting air to theinterior of the casing to take the place of the fluid which is poured out through the spout 13, there is provided a smaller-spout 20, which, similar ence to Figs. 5 and 8. This collar is to the spout 13, is provided with a plurality of partitions having openings therein arranged in staggered relation with respect to each other, so as to permit the passage of air and obstruct the passage of light.

Mounted .on theshaft 6, there is provided a base plate 21, which is connected .to, and held'in spaced relation from, a superposed auxiliary base plate 22, by any suitable means, such as pins 23, disposed in spaced relation around the peripheries of the two plates. These plates extend into both compartments, and are preferably provided with a plurality of openings 24, to permit the circulation of the devloping and washing solutions therethrough.-

Loosely mounted on the shaft 6,'intermediate the plates 21 and 22, there is pro--.,

vided a collar 25, the particular structure of which will be more clearly seen by referprovided on its outer surface with a hook 26, which is adapted to be engaged by an opening in a spacer 27-, which may be of any suitable form, such as a strip of leather, provided with a plurality of cut-out portions or notches 28, for the purpose of permitting the transmission of the developing and washing solutions therethrough. The plates 21 and 22 are bent upwardly slightly at a portion thereof, to form a guide for the spacer 27, andfor this purpose are provided with a plurality of anti-friction rollers 29, over which the spacer 27 is adapted to run.

Connected to the plates 21 and 22 in any suit-able manner, there is provided a reelholder 30, which is adapted to extend into the compartment 3, and which is open at the side facing the compartment 2.

Centrally located in the compartment 3, on the plates 21 and'22, there is provided a stub shaft 31, which is adapted to form a pivot support for a film reel 32, which carries a film 33,- to be developed. For the purpose of securing the free end of the film 33 to the shaft 6, there is provided on the shaft 6 aclamping member 34, which is preferably of a .springy nature and secured its lower end. This clamp 34 is also provided with a pin 35 at its lower end, which is adapted to engage in an opening in the spacer '27, whereby the free end of the spacer 27 is also locked to the shaft 6 and carried therewith.

For the purpose of securely holding the clamp 34'against the shaft 6, and thus looking the end of the film 33 and the end of the at its upper end on the shaft 6 and free at spacer 27 thereto, there is provided a lockmg collar 36, which is slidingly mounted on the shaft 6, and is open at one side, so as to permitit to slide by the film 33. In order that this locking collar 36 may not rotate, it is provided with slots 37 and 38, located on each side of the clamp 34, as more clearly illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10. The metal of the collar 36, at the location of these slots, is forcedinwardly to form tongues 39, which engage the side edges of the clamp 34, and thus permit the sliding engagement of the collar 36, and yet prevent its rotation.

For the purpose of rotating the shaft 6, and thereby winding thereon the film 33 together with the spacer 27 which separates the successive coils of the film, there is provided a crank 46, which has'thereon a lug the bottom of the shaft 6, a slot 50, which i I is adapted to be engaged by pin 48 on the crank 46, and there is also provided a corresponding slot 51 in the collar 25,which is adapted to be brought into alinement with the slot 50, and is also adapted to receive the pin 48 on the crank 46. The plates 21 and 22, together With the reel-holder, may

be removed bodily from the receptacle.1,.

and for this purpose, the shaft 6 is provided with a flange 52 on the bottom thereof.

In order to provide a convenient-means for indicating the period 'iduring which it is desired to submit the film to the particular solution, there is inscribdon the cover 8 a graduated scale 53, preferably in the form of a circular scale, and a movable pointer 54, preferably a pivoted member, which is adapted to be moved relative to the scale and left in any predetermined position.

For the pur ose of securing the cover 8 tothe body 0 the receptacle, there is provided a plurality of locks 55, which may be of any suit-able structure, but are shown in the form of angle bars 56' pivoted to the side of the receptacle and extending up over the cover 8, where they are provided with adjustable setscrews 57, which are adapted to engage in bearing pieces 58, on the top of the cover. This structure forms a neat and secure lock which positively holds the cover to the body, without danger of the solution leaking out or the light creeping in.

The operation of the device will be readily understood when taken in connection with the above description.

The film reel 32 containing the film 33' to be developed, is insertedin the holder 30, and the end of the film 33 attached to the shaft 6 by bein inserted beneath the clamp 84. The end 0 the spacer 27 is also secured to the shaft 6 by being inserted beneath the clamp 34, with the pin 35 passingthrough the aperture therein. The clamp 34: is then looked securely to the shaft 6, so as to grip' ner that each successive coil is spaced apart from the next adjacent coil in a spiral manner, by means of the spacer 27, so that there will be plenty of room between the successive coils of the film to'permit the developing and washing solutions to circulate. The

object is to unreel the film into the developing solution below the surface thereof, so as to prevent theformation of air bubbles on the surface of the film. The shaft 6 is then gently moved up and down, so that the solution will pass through the various openings in the plates and the spacer, between the coils of the film, completely developing the latter to the degree desired. The upward motion of the shaft 6 and the part carrying the film connected therewith is-limitcd by the top of the clamp 3 f coming in contact with the under side of the cover, so that the film at no time comes above the surface of the solution. This method keeps up a constant circulation. The desired period of developing may be indicated by the pointer 54 onthe cover 8. When the period of developing has elapsed, the solution is poured out through the spout or conduit 13, the auxiliary spout or conduit 20 permitting the air to pass into the interior of the developer to take the place of the solution poured out. The film is then washed one or more times by pouring in a washing solution, such as water, through the spout 13. The cover can then be removed, and the film laid out flat on the table and treated in any desired manner with a fixing solution. In order to reset the developing device, the hand crank 46 is removed from engagement with the top end of the shaft 6 and adjusted to the bottom end of the shaft by vinserting it through. the slots 50 and 51, when it will be in a position to simultaneou'sly rotate the shaft 6 and the col- 7 lar 25. The spacer can then be rewound 'on the collar 25 between the plates 20 and 22. s

\Vhile I have shown one embodiment 'of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the specific details thereof, but desire to be protected in various changes, modifications and alterations which may come within the scope of the appended claimsi Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Let? ters Patent 1 The combination with a casing, of a holder in said casing adapted to hold a reel with a film thereon, means mounted in said casing for coiling said film from said reel in such a manner that the transmission of a fluid is permitted between the successive layers, and plates in said casing for supporting said reel and said means, and

having perforations therein adapted to permit the transmission of a fluid therethrough.

2. The combination 'witha casing, of a shaft adapted to coil up a strip of material to be treated in said casing, a spacer for separating the successive layers of said strip of material, a collar loosely-mounted on said shaft adapted to form a drum for said spacer, and means for operatively connecting said collar to said shaft.

- 3. The combination with a casing, of a shaft rotatably supported in said casing and adapted to wind a strip of material, to be treated, thereon, a spacer for separating the successive coils of said strip of material, a collar for winding said spacer, and a crank adapted to rotate said shaft alone, and said collar together with said shaft.

4:. The combination with a casing, of a shaft rotatably mounted. in said casing, a plurality of perforated plates mounted on said, shaft, said shaft being adapted to wind up a strip of material. to be treated, and a spacer for separating the successive coils of said strip of material said plates forming guides for-said spacer.

5. The combination with a casing, of means located. in said casing for coiling up a strip of material to be treated, a cover for said casing, said cover having a pair of flanges extending in spaced felation on opposite sides of the rim of the body of said casing, a strip of flexible material interposed betweensaid flanges, and exterior clamps for securing said cover in place whereby a light-tight joint is made between the bodyof said casing and said cover.

6. The combination with a casing, of a shaft movably mounted in said casing and adapted to have 'a'film wound thereon, and members secured to said shaft and movable therewith, so that said film can be manipulated up and down in said casing when filled to move vertically therewith relative to said casing, said members being adaptedto sup- In' testimony whereof I have signed my port said film, spacing means for holding name to this specification in the presence of the various portions of said film in spaced two subscribing Witnesses. relation, whereby said film may be manipw SEDGWICK PRATT.

5 lated up and down in'developing solutions Witnesses:

- so as to treat each portion thereof Without CHARLES RLHOLTON,

the formation of bubbles, I JOHN DONNELLAN. 

